
Islands and Snakes contains 13 chapters describing ecological systems with foci on snakes and their ecological roles on islands around the world. Each chapter is written by one or more authors who is an authority on that particular system. Summaries of research on the various islands are written in a narrative manner that includes science as well as personal insights in easily understood language. These varied vignettes of science feature islands around the world, and in all cases, fantastic species of snakes and their roles in the community of insular organisms in which they occur. Both challenges and opportunities associated with island life are discussed, as well as the unique attributes of snakes and their conservation as unique and important parts of nature. Chapters include colorful photographs and illustrations, and collectively they convey information on topics that include ecology, behavior, biogeography, physiology, adaptation, and evolutionary biology. An introductory chapter presents a review and perspective on the historical importance of island ecology and how snakes have contributed to our understanding of evolution and adaptation. The other chapters focus on snakes inhabiting islands associated with Asia, Australia, South America, North America, the Caribbean, and Europe. The final chapter features the unique "table top islands" or tepuis of South America as examples of ecological islands where elements of biota have become isolated by geographic features of landscape similarly to oceanic islands.
This volume investigates the ecological roles and evolutionary adaptations of snake populations inhabiting isolated island environments across the globe. Editors Harvey B. Lillywhite and Marcio Martins compile contributions from leading researchers to examine how geographic isolation influences the behavior, physiology, and conservation status of these reptiles. The text argues that island systems serve as critical natural laboratories for understanding broader principles of evolutionary biology and community ecology.
What You Will Find
Scope Limits
Experts recognize this collection as a valuable resource for herpetologists and ecologists interested in the intersection of biogeography and evolutionary adaptation. Readers frequently note that the narrative style makes complex scientific research accessible to a broader audience while maintaining academic rigor.
Page Count:
360
Publication Date:
2019-08-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0190676418
ISBN-13:
9780190676414
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!